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AAP
AAP
Andrew Brown

AEC identify person behind unauthorised poll pamphlets

Wentworth MP Allegra Spender slammed the pamphlets as "false, misleading and offensive". (Mick Tsikas/AAP PHOTOS)

The Australian Electoral Commission has identified the person who sent thousands of unauthorised campaign pamphlets threatening to expose an independent MP.

The commission set up an investigation after more than 47,000 flyers without authorisation were distributed in the eastern Sydney electorate of Wentworth, held by independent MP Allegra Spender.

It claims it is "produced by the people of Wentworth, for the people of Wentworth", but a lack of official authorisation means voters do not know where its information is sourced from, putting the pamphlets in breach of Australia's main election law.

Following the investigation, the electoral commission said it had identified the person behind the campaign, who has no link to political parties or candidates contesting the seat of Wentworth.

"To date, our investigation has only identified evidence that this individual has acted alone, and the individual concerned has confirmed this is the case," the commission said on Wednesday.

Australian Electoral Commission
Voters should stop and consider the source of election messages, the election commission says. (Mick Tsikas/AAP PHOTOS)

The commission said the person behind the campaign had pledged to not distribute the flyers or any other unauthorised material.

 "The AEC will not be providing the name of this person at this time," it said.

"Voters are reminded to stop and consider the source of all messages relating to the 2025 federal election."

Once considered a blue-ribbon Liberal seat, Wentworth was taken off the coalition at the 2022 election by Ms Spender, making it a tightly contested electorate at the May 3 poll.

The pamphlets claimed Ms Spender had "misled the electorate on her positions".

The independent MP said its contents were "false, misleading and offensive".

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